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United States Patent Olfice 3,525,171 DISPLAY MEANS Harry S. Gilman, Marblehead, Mass. (556 Atlantic Ave., Boston, Mass. 02210) Filed May 2, 1968, Ser. No. 726,125 Int. Cl. G09f N10 US. Cl. 40-158 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A light transmitting display for a bowling alley scoring table adapted to project bowling scores onto a screen comprising a pair of light transmitting rigid sheets with facing surfaces having one of the sheets of greater thickness than the other. A bowling score card or graph is imprinted on one of the surfaces. A channel is also formed in one ofthe surfaces and extends continuously thereabout in spaced relation to its periphery. An adhesive means is interposed between and secures the facing surfaces in sealed relation with the adhesive means positioned between the'periphery of the facing surfaces and the channel.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved display means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been customary in bowling to score league or competitive scores on a loose transparent plastic positioned over a transparent portion of a scoring table. A light within the scoring table projects through the transparent plastic upon which the score is written and projects it onto a screen on the ceiling of the bowling alley. Recently, there have been attempts to improve this scoring means by eliminating the use of the loose plastic sheets since it is unnecessary and expensive. In place of these plastic sheets it has become customary to imprint the bowling score cards or graphs upon which the score is written directly upon the transparent panels which are conventionally supported in the scoring table. The scorer then writes the score on the transparent panel in an erasable crayon. This technique is not completely satisfactory because these score cards become marred or erased through extensive use. Attempts to overcome these problems by printing the score card on the underneath surface of the transparent panels are not satisfactory either because of the thickness of the panels. These panels must be of suflicient thickness to bear substantial weight not only from the pressure of the scoring crayon or pencil but also from the occasional weight of a players hands or other objects which might be placed upon the scoring table. Because the panels are thick, printing the score card on the underside and scoring with an erasable or removable crayon on the other side results in a parallax distortion when the scores are projected onto a screen. Consequently there is a substantial need for an improved means of providing permanent scoring graphs or charts for bowling alley scoring tables.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved means for scoring league or competitive bowling scores. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved display means for optically displaying a combination of data permanently impressed and removably impressed on a transparent panel onto a screen. A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved means of constructing portions of bowling scoring tables.

3,525,171 Patented Aug. 25, 1970 In the present invention there is provided a light transmitting display adapted to be supported in an aperture of a scoring table. The display consists essentially of a pair of light transmitting rigid sheets or panels having adjacent facing surfaces with one of the sheets having a thickness greater than the other, and the other of the sheets having a second surface opposite its first surface adapted to receive removable markings. Means forming visual impressions are formed on one of the facing surfaces. A channel is also formed in one of the facing surfaces and extends continuously thereabout in spaced relation to the periphery of the surface. An adhesive means is interposed between and secures the facing surfaces in sealed relation with the adhesive means positioned between the periphery and the channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a bowling alley scoring table embodying the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on an enlarged scale substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a conventional bowling alley scoring table 1 of conventional size and dimensions. These tables ordinarily have an upper surface which are inclined slightly downwardly from one edge to the opposite edge of the table. Frequently, the tables are designed to permit two scorers to sit at the table for simultaneously scoring games played in adjacent bowling lanes. The upper surface 2 of the table is provided with an aperture 4. The aperture ordinarily has a length sufiicient to receive a transparent unit which extends substantially the entire width of the table. In addi tion the table is ordinarily provided with a support 5 holding a projecting lens adapted to optically project images onto a screen secured to the ceiling. Light is projected through the aperture 4 from a light source 2' in the direction of arrow 3. Material printed or visually impressed on the transparent or semitransparent display means is projected through the optical system supported on the support 5 onto the screen.

In the present invention the light transmitting display supported and extending across the aperture 4 consists of a pair of sheets or panels 7 and 8. These sheets 7 and 8 are formed of a light transmitting rigid sheet material preferably of sheet acetate or some equivalent plastic composition. Sheet 7 is preferably thicker than sheet 8 and ordinarily will have a thickness in the order of 7 to 4". Sheet 8 which forms a cover to the base sheet 7 ordinarily will have a thickness in the order of magnitude of A Both the sheets are preferably coextensive in length and width and may take the form of a trapezoid as illustrated in FIG. 1. The upper surface 6 of cover sheet 8 should have a texture such as to permit removably inscribing or marking this surface with a marking crayon. Any conventional marking crayon which may be easily removed may be used. Base sheet '7 is provided with a continuous channel 9. Channel 9 preferably has a rectangular cross section as illustrated in FIG. 2 and may be formed by milling or cutting slots parallel to the side edges of base sheet 7 to a selected depth with a cutting tool of selected width. The slots 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d which form channel 9 may extend to the edge provided channel 9 forms a continuous channel about the center portion of the surface 10 of base sheet 7. Base sheet 7 and cover sheet 8 are secured together about the periphery by cement !12 which extends from the outer periphery or edges of the sheets 7 and 8 inwardly to and terminating at the outer edge of the channel 9. This cement or adhesive should be suitable for the particular material of which sheets 7 and 8 are made. Thus if sheets of an acetate plastic are used a suitable acetate cement should be also used. The cement 12 is applied by brush or cotton swab 'Which is loaded with the cement. The brush or swab is rubbed or brushed along the edges of the sheets 7 and 8 after they have been placed in facing relation to one another. The cement migrates from the edge towards the channel 9 where channel 9 acts as a barrier and prevents any further movement of the cement inwardly to the center portion of the surface 10 of base sheet 7.

Prior to cementing the sheets together either the surface 10 of base sheet 7 or the surface 11 of the cover sheet 8 are suitably impressed with a bowling form or score card illustrated at .15. A conventional bowling form or score card may be printed by suitable means such as by silk screen techniques. As illustrated in FIG. 1 two such charts may be used for adjacent alleys. In addition, advertising media illustrated at 16 may be used.

After the display panel is formed with the base and cover sheets 7 and 8 suitably cemented together to form an airtight center portion with the forms of cards sealed between the two sheets 7 and 8, the assembled sheets may be suitably secured within the aperture 4. A conventional peripheral frame generally illustrated at 20 may be used. This frame may, for example, consist of a continuous trapezoidal frame having a T-shaped cross section as illustrated in FIG. 2. One leg of the T-shaped cross section may be intermittently secured by screws 23 with the screws extending downwardly through the T- shape into the table top 2. The other leg 21 extends inwardly preferably over the upper surface 6 of cover sheet 8 a distance sufiicient to vertically overlap or cover channel 9. Thus cement 12 which is normally visible through transparent sheets 7 and 8 is effectively concealed by the frame. The lower portions of the sheets 7 and 8 are secured by shoulder section 24 formed in the bowling table top. Other securing means may, however, be used.

What is claimed is: v

1. A light transmitting display adapted to be optically projected on a screen comprising,

a pair of light transmitting rigid sheets having adjacent facing surfaces and with one of said sheets having a thickness greater than the other and the other of said sheets having a second surface opposite its facing surface adapted to receive removable markings,

means forming visual impressions on one of said facing surfaces,

a channel formed in one of said facing surfaces and extending continuously thereabout in spaced relation to the periphery thereof,

and adhesive means interposed between and securing said facing surfaces in sealed relation with said adhesive means positioned between said periphery and said channel.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adhe sive means extends entirely about the marginal portions of said sheets forming a seal about the portions of said facing surfaces within a border defined by said channels.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 including frame means engaging and supporting said sheets at the peripheries thereof, said frame including an inwardly extending continuous flange overlying said second surface and extending inwardly from said periphery a distance greater than said channel is from said periphery.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said channel is formed of a plurality of slots having ends extending to said periphery and intersecting intermediate the ends.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,280,493 10/1966 Newman 40-158 3,372,505 3/1968 Wright 40158 3,384,98'5 5/1968 Bretz et al. 40-1061 3,386,199 6/1968 Nagatsuka 40-435 3,390,474 7/1968 Wright 40-158 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

Disclaimer 3,525,171..Harry S. Gilman, Marblehead, Mass. DISPLAY MEANS. Patent dated Aug. 25, 1970. Disclaimer filed Dec. 2, 1971, by the inventor.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to the remaining term of said patent.

[Ofiicial Gazette March '1", 1972.] 

